American Museum of Natural History Research Library
author: American Museum of Natural History

Muir, John, 1838-1914
birth: April 21, 1838
death: December 24, 1914
John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club and instrumental int the establishment of Yosemite National Park, was a self-taught and tireless naturalist, conservationist, horticulturalist and traveller. Born in Dunbar, Scotland, he came to Wisconsin at the age of 11 with his father and two older sisters. In 1863 Muir became a wandering student and naturalist, taking jobs where he could and traveling into Canada, the southern United States, and eventually to the Yosemite Valley of California, where he found his vocation, the conservation and protection of the forests. At his urging, the U.S. Forestry Commission was formed, and in 1891 Congress empowered the President to create forest reserves. Muir devoted the rest of his life to travel and study, journeying to Australia, Africa, South America and Alaska.